During the Christmas holidays, a boy turned the pages on the old family Bible and was fascinated by the colourful artwork. Suddenly, something fell out. He picked it up and held it to the light. It was an old leaf his mother had pressed between the pages. “Mom,” he said, “look what I found.” “What is it?” she asked. “I think it’s Adam’s underwear,” he said.
Well, it’s that time of year when we…turn over a new leaf. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to be walking closer to Jesus 365 days from now. What does that look like? Philippians 3:10 in the old Amplified Bible provides a clue. “[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly…]”
There is no greater pursuit this year. Here are three determined steps we can take to draw closer to God.
- Say hello to simplicity. Things get blurry when we hurry and worry. Our lives get too cluttered and complicated to see what’s truly important. But no purchase will fulfill us; no achievement will satisfy. Enough is never enough. This year let’s determine to get our eyes off the stuff of earth. Let’s enjoy the therapy of silence, the serenity of wanting what we have, the joy of finding Him to be all we need.
- Dust off the Bible. Last year zipped by. Who shortened it to six months? But one of the most memorable things was to read through the Bible. I cheated a bit. I listened to it on the YouVersion app on the way to work. In just 12 minutes a day. We spend 18 times that much on our phones. Pick God’s book up each day and see how it changes you.
- Go to the source. One New Year, the Tournament of Roses parade was stopped when a beautiful float sputtered and quit. The float represented the Standard Oil Company. With its vast oil resources, its truck ran out of gas. This year we have access to the limitless reserves of God. Let’s load up, let’s talk to him, listen to him, spend time with him. Say hello to simplicity. Dust off the Bible. Go to the source. A year from now we’ll be glad we did.
Happy New Year.
